By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Jan. 21: Reconstruction of Kasthamandap, the century-old resting place, has been affected by the shortage of timber logs for a couple of months, according to the Kasthamandap Reconstruction Committee (KRC).
The Timber Corporation of Nepal has said that it does not have the logs of the demanded sizes in its stock. In lack of logs of the required sizes, reconstruction of Kasthamandap, the three-storey, monument, is now moving at a snail’s pace.
“After completing the work of erecting 20 pillars and the pinnacle on the third floor, no visible progress has been made as only minor works like crafting wooden pieces are being done,” said Gautam Dangol, secretary of the Kasthamandap Reconstruction Committee (KRC). “We have been facing shortage of logs since the start of the nationwide lockdown.”
However, the corporation has committed to providing the said logs within a few days, he said.
The KRC has stated that Rs. 69 million was spent and 6,102 cubic feet of timber was used so far in the reconstruction of the historical monument.
The committee has estimated that 13,000 cubic feet of timber is required to rebuild the three-storey public shelter. Of the total, 1,000 cubic feet wood was brought from the Mahakali Irrigation Project in Sudurpashchim Province.
Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) had provided over Rs. 100 million for the work last fiscal year. KMC, along with Department of Archaeology (DoA), has estimated the reconstruction cost at Rs. 198.8 million.
The Committee, on the other hand, estimated that reconstruction works would be completed in between Rs. 130 to 150 million.
About 75 per cent of the work on Kasthamandap has been completed so far.